I spent a night at the Hotel Albuquerque, which was the host hotel of the Route 66 Festival. Based on what I saw and heard, I have advice for future hotel hosts of Route 66 festivals: If you have to shut down an elevator for cosmetic remodeling, please do it at a time when dozens … Continue reading Advice for future host hotels
Duke City barbecue
During the Route 66 Festival, I was hoping to find a great restaurant that I hadn't visited before in my half-dozen excursions or so through Albuquerque. The Frontier was pretty swell, with its unique atmosphere and combination of health food and stick-to-your-ribs diner fare. But the real find for Emily and me was Powdrell's BBQ … Continue reading Duke City barbecue
Oklahoma proposes tourism funding cuts
I've received word that proposed state funding for about 30 Oklahoma Historical Society sites, including the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, has been cut from $3.1 million to a mere $700,000. The state is working out its yearly budget and has less than a week in which to do so. It seems ludicrous to cut … Continue reading Oklahoma proposes tourism funding cuts
President’s executive order doesn’t mean much
I read with interest on the newswires this morning that President Bush issued an executive order that limits the federal government from seizing private property via eminent domain. The order came on the anniversary of a controversial Supreme Court decision that upheld the use of eminent domain for private development. A story about the order … Continue reading President’s executive order doesn’t mean much
“Cars” director John Lasseter wins Will Rogers Award
John Lasseter, director of Disney-Pixar's summer blockbuster movie "Cars," was given the highest honor at the Will Rogers Awards Evening on Friday in Albuquerque, capping an emotional event that marked the 80th anniversary of historic Route 66. Lasseter was unable to receive the Will Rogers Award because he was on an overdue vacation in Europe. … Continue reading “Cars” director John Lasseter wins Will Rogers Award
“Cars” road show in Tulsa
Brad Nickson of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association shot photos when the "Cars" road show made a stop in Tulsa. Here is the set of photos on Flickr.
Murphy’s Law
After a well-run and productive Route 66 Summit yesterday, the law of averages would dictate that something would eventually go wrong at the Route 66 Festival in Albuquerque. Well, Murphy's Law took effect this morning during the setup of the authors and artists showcase at the Hotel Albuquerque. First, the hotel goofed with the location … Continue reading Murphy’s Law
Debut issue of Route 66 Pulse newspaper is out
During the Route 66 Summit yesterday, the publishers of the Route 66 Pulse newspaper distributed complimentary copies of its first issue at the Hotel Albuquerque, which is the headquarters of the Route 66 Festival this week. In the issue are these stories: A story about the movie "Cars." A story about the festival An "exclusive" … Continue reading Debut issue of Route 66 Pulse newspaper is out
More scuttlebutt
Here are more Route 66 news items I learned at the afternoon session of the Route 66 Summit in Albuquerque: -- American Road magazine is expanding its Web site on June 30, complete with podcasts from our two-lane highways. -- David Sheehan is currently traveling Route 66 to film a pilot episode about the Mother … Continue reading More scuttlebutt
Scuttlebutt from the road
I'm between sessions at the Route 66 Summit in Albuquerque, before the festival starts in earnest. The nice part is that you hear a lot of news from the movers and shakers of the Mother Road. Here's the latest tidbits: A Phillips 66 station at 10th and Military streets in Baxter Springs, Kan., has been … Continue reading Scuttlebutt from the road